TORONTO – On a night when Toronto returned their full compliment of stars, it was Benny Feilhaber who would not be denied.
The MVP candidate collected his eighth goal and 12th assist, leading Sporting Kansas City to a 3-1 win over Toronto FC at BMO Field, aided by a patient defensive outing from his teammates and some superb goalkeeping from Tim Melia.
Following a few half chances and a penalty shout each way, Sporting would be awarded a spot kick in the 20th minute when Ahmed Kantari was adjudged to have felled Kevin Ellis in the area – his outstretched arm preventing the KC defender from getting up in the air, sending him crashing to the ground.
Feilhaber stepped to the spot, eyeing Joe Bendik to his left before calmly slotting a low shot down the middle, taking a 22nd minute lead for his side.
Toronto would respond mere seconds later when a wonderful passing move swept through the middle of the pitch. Collen Warner played to Jonathan Osorio, who in turn touched to a streaking Michael Bradley. Bradley went wide to Sebastian Giovinco, who returned the favour, laying a ball into the area for Bradley to slot past Melia.
But Krizstian Nemeth got on the end of a Feilhaber free-kick in the 29th minute, meeting the delivery at the top of the TFC box to loop a header over Bendik and into the net.
That scoreline would hold into the halftime whistle.
Toronto would steadily increase the pressure and have their chances: a Giovinco free-kick was struck into the wall, Warner sent a header wide, Melia pulled off a fine double-save, denying both Jackson's shot and then Kantari's follow-up with the net agape. Jozy Altidore too would waste a free-header sending his agonizingly wide, and a Bradley touch having been played in down the left was equally off-target.
But it would be Jacob Peterson, a former Red himself, who sealed the result, slipping a ball under Bendik when played down the left-side of the area in the 87th minute after Amobi Okugoslid him in on goal.
Sporting's domination over Toronto continues, having lost just once in the last 14 encounters, all under Peter Vermes.
Both teams return to league play next weekend on Saturday, August 15. Toronto travel to New York where they will face the Red Bulls, while Sporting KC return home for a match against Vancouver, but not until after a midweek US Open Cup Semifinal clash with Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park on Wednesday, August 12.
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